BCR Questions

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

A view back, a view ahead

The American style right wing agenda begins in Canada soon, if a majority Harper Government is returned by electors. If you like what BC Liberals achieved, you will love a Tory majority. So far, we have had only Harper Lite, constrained as a minority party by the risk of parliamentary defeat. Like Republicans, the ruling Conservative Party of Canada aims to:

Strip government of social welfare functions and economic regulatory activity, requiring industry and commerce to self-regulate, without public oversight.

Increase central executive authority to make elected bodies less relevant.

Eliminate taxes on capital, profits, unearned and other investment income.

Tax income with modest flat rate;

Increase debt, consumption taxes and user fees;

Support U.S. dominated new world order.

Stephen Harper, his former Reform Party and Libertarian colleagues believe that, instead of individual freedom, equal opportunity, jobs and education, we need more discipline, globalism, free trade and religion. For the rest, the street drug trade will be allowed to flourish.

Did Koch Industries write the budget deal? Or is it just a coincidence that so many of the the things Republicans demanded -- and got -- just happen to line up with the financial interests of the billionaires who fund the Tea Party and much of the “conservative movement?” Cutting money for the EPA, alternative energy efficiency, high-speed rail, efforts to fight climate change -- even prohibiting NOAA from creating a Climate Service ... it reads like an oil tycoon's wish list. . ."

"One of the hardest hit institutions is the Environmental Protection Agency, whose power Republicans have sought to curtail in recent years through a variety of legislative means. The agency will receive $1.6 billion less in funding than current levels, a 16 percent drop, including a $49 million reduction in climate change programs and $149 million cut to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. . . .The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also saw a $142 million reduction in funding and is prohibited from creating a Climate Service.

"In addition to programs protecting the environment, programs aimed at boosting energy efficiency for power plants and transportation also were major targets. Energy efficiency and renewable energy were cut by $438 million while fossil energy R&D was reduced by $226 million and nuclear energy funding was cut by $56 million. Funding for high speed rail [cut entirely] . . . "

WASHINGTON - April 12 - Anti-environmental provisions that remove Endangered Species protections for endangered gray wolves and another that seeks to strip the government of its authority to protect some of America’s best undeveloped natural public lands are in the budget bill to be voted on by the end of this week

While the White House and the Senate averted a disastrous government shut-down last week, they failed to block amendments that sacrifice one of America’s most important wildlife safeguards. The amendment to remove ESA protections for wolves marks the first time in history that a species will be delisted by Congress.

"AUGUSTA, Maine— In their drive to cut medical assistance to the poor while pushing tax breaks benefiting the affluent, congressional Republicans are following the lead of a group of governors who have championed this approach to balance state budgets.

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